Lawrence I. Garbuz, Partner

Lawrence’s twenty year career within the field of trusts and estates runs the gamut of serving individual and institutional clients with personal estate planning, wealth preservation, estate and tax issues, Surrogate’s Court proceedings, contested proceedings, charitable giving planning as well as elder law considerations, including guardianship, Medicaid planning and planning for people with disabilities. Because of his level of experience, Lawrence brings a degree of sophistication and sensitivity in working with families in their time of need.

Lawrence knows that the problems and complexities that families face require thorough knowledge of the field of trusts and estates, both now and in the future. As important is the requirement that each client be treated with compassion throughout the working relationship, as the legal issues presented demand both wealth of knowledge of the law but also a key understanding of the client’s unique needs to best achieve the client’s objectives.

Lawrence is one of the named founding partners of the firm. Having left a large firm environment, in founding the firm, Lawrence sought to create an environment where the issues facing the client can be achieved by providing larger firm sophistication with the smaller firm setting. Lawrence personally meets with and works with his clients to get a fuller understanding of the issues presented.

The field of trusts and estates requires that as counsel the role is to educate as well as to advise. The issues facing persons in need for legal work are daunting and the rules may be complicated. However, if successful in educating a client about the rules and the options available, not only will the client feel more a part of the decision making process, they will feel more comfortable in expressing their true objectives – which makes the process more satisfying for the client as well as more attainable.

As part of the trusts and estates practice, Lawrence has appeared in numerous contested and uncontested Surrogate’s Court proceedings throughout New York City, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk and Rockland Counties. Lawrence has worked both sides of the Will Contest, representing both proponents and objectants. As appropriate, Lawrence has used his experience to litigation when needed and has negotiated resolution if desirable.

Lawrence is admitted to the practice of law in both New York and Florida; he is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, and the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Southern Districts. A graduate of New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, he received his law degree from the Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where he served as Managing Editor of the Cardozo Arts and Entertainment Law Journal. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, City Bar of New York, Westchester Bar Association and NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc.)

Lawrence has written and talked to legal professionals, accountants, and lay people s regarding various trusts and estates and elder law topics including among them, Advanced Directives, Wealth Transfer Vehicles, Charitable and Planned Giving, and Prepayment of Tuition as an estate planning vehicle.

Lewis and Garbuz, P.C. represents clients throughout New York City and the surrounding areas, including: Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Westchester, Nassau County, New Jersey and Rockland County and Florida.